Cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of zearalenone:: Prevention by vitamin E

We have shown that zearalenone (Zen) induces sterility in female rats treated before or after fertilisation. It also causes hepatic and renal lesions and haematological and biochemical effects as evidenced by modification of several parameters. Its cytotoxicity has been confirmed in vitro in Vero cells (IC50 = 20 mu M), in which it causes inhibition of protein and DNA synthesis and production of malondialdehyde (MDA). It has been shown that Zen induces the formation of DNA adducts primarily in the liver in mice. Experiments have been designed to demonstrate the genotoxicity of Zen and its consequences, such as mutagenicity. In addition, the use of vitamin E as natural preventive agent has been studied. We have demonstrated that Zen (1.5 mM) induces the expression of genes of the SOS repair system in lysogenic E. coli which have integrated the 1 phage, indicating the induction of lesions in the DNA Vitamin E, which has some structural similarities with Zen, prevented all the observed effects, when preincubated in the medium (6-12 mM) 1h prior to the toxin. Thus vitamin E appears efficient in preventing cytotoxic, genotoxic and mutagenic effects of Zen and possibly the carcinogenic ones.